KEY POINTS:
It's hard to think positively about the cricket today when my thus-far stellar run in the virtual rugby competition may be coming to an end.
I already dropped from my lofty position of 474th to somewhere around 1100th place last week. And I got the Crusaders winning margin wrong in last night's game.
Sigh. A bad start.
Matched by the bad start here at the National Stadium in Grenada, where Mathew Hayden and Ricky Ponting are just taking turns at sending the ball to the rope.
The stands contain an army of yellow jerseys. One section in particular looks like a corn cob – neat rows of little yellow kernels.
And it's not an all inspiring performance out there in the field.
Craig McMillan fumbled the first ball he fielded. Shane Bond has a tummy bug and is still in bed. Jacob Oram is off having his heel amputated so he can play in the semi final.
James Franklin took the early wicket of Adam Gilchrist, but the look of shock on his face didn't install any confidence that it was actually supposed to happen.
I'm not normally this pessimistic, but there are bad signs everywhere.
Up on the big screen the message keeps flashing up 'Gidday Mate, Kai Roa". Obviously no Maori dictionary at hand.
At least the atmosphere is cheery in the party stand. Between every over when the music starts the locals all jump up and start grooving and singing, then sit down when the music goes quiet.
Just like noddy dogs when the car starts moving.
Looking back I think my pessimism started at training yesterday. While the others were in the nets out the back, Peter Fulton faced the groundsman at the crease, fully kitted out in helmet and pads.
As the big roller made its way down the wicket towards him, Fulton practiced ducking the ball, he practiced swinging at the ball and then he practiced taking off his helmet and walking off – obviously dismissed for a small total.
It was a sign. The roller was yellow.
